Here are 2 cards I made using the Stampin’ UP!Celebrate Today Photopolymer stamp set from the Occasions Catalog. They have the same basic layout and design, but I switched up the colors a bit. The first card uses the Polka Dot Embossing Folder on a Crumb Cake card stock base. TheBalloon Framelitscut out my Coastal Cabana balloon. In keeping with the polka dot theme, I stamped the dots from the stamp set on the balloon and topped them off with Crystal Effects for dimension. The “happy” is from the Hello You Thinlits and the “Birthday” is from Hooray It’s Your Day stamp set. I stamped it on Vellum with Chocolate Chip ink. A strip of Chocolate Chip card stock along the bottom and some Early Espresso Bakers Twine tied in a bow finish off the card.

The second card uses the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, crumb cake and pink pirouette card stock. I stamped the stars/confetti on the balloon in Gold Encore ink, then added stars punched from Gold Glimmer Paper using the Confetti Stars Border Punch. The sentiment is from Hooray its Your Day, this time stamped in white craft ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The bakers twine is from the January 2015 Paper Pumpkin Kit.

Blended Bloomis a great all occasion stamp for coloring with Blendabilities Markers. The markers come in three shades (dark, medium, and light) which makes shading and blending very easy. For this birthday card, I colored the flower with the Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities, then cut it out. The center was colored with Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie Blendabilities.

I used the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder on Very Vanilla card stock, added a strip of cherry cobbler card stock, then adhered the flower on top with stampin dimensionals.

The sentiment is from Endless Birthday Wishes.I used the oval punch to cut it out, then added 2 Basic Rhinestones that I colored with the cherry cobbler Blendabilities. These alcohol markers can color anything–buttons, pearls, rhinestones.

Here is another example of the flower from Blended Bloom, colored with Old Olive Blendabilities Markers. The card base is In Color Blackberry Bliss, layered with Hello Honey. The sentiment is from a stamp I had on hand. I like the flower colored in green–it reminds me of an artichoke for some reason and looks so pretty.

Although it’s cold, windy, and rainy today, spring and summer are just around the corner. Here are a few Summer/Garden themed Bridal Shower invitations I made, perfect for all those Fall/Autumn weddings.

Elegant Butterfly Bridal Shower Invitation

This invitation features a beautiful butterfly from the Creative Elements stamp set. It’s stamped in Calypso Coral ink and accented by Shimmer Mist. A small Basic Pearl in the center is the perfect accent. I also paper pierced the card stock using the Essential Paper Piercing Pack.

Along the sides of the custom printed invitation, I stamped leaves from Summer Silhouettesin Certainly celery ink, stamped off once to give it a more subtle effect. The background card stock is also Certainly Celery.

Garden Party Bridal Invitation

This bridal shower invitation features bright colors and an embossed birdcage “hanging” on the front. Most of the colors can be customized, but these shades of yellow, pink, and green seemed summery to me. The base color is So Saffron, layered with a wide Certainly Celery strip of card stock. I stamped the flowers from Betsy’s Blossomsin various shades of pink, green, and yellow. The birdcage is from Chic Boutiqueand I embossed it with Wild Wasabi embossing powder. It’s attached to the card with a stampin dimensional and “hangs” with a bit of silver cord.

Chic Birdcage Bridal Shower Invitation

Here is another Bridal Shower invitation I made using the birdcage from Chic Boutique. The card is a gatefold style, with the front flaps opening up to reveal the invitation wording inside.

The card measures standard A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) when closed. I stamped the front with En Francaisin So Saffron ink, to match the card stock for a tone on tone effect. The strip across the front is Primrose Petals card stock, embossed with the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder. To get the points on each side, I slipped each end of the card stock into the Designer Label Punch and clipped off the ends.

The birdcage is from Chic Boutique, embossed with Wild Wasabi ink and colored. It is attached to the card with a stampin dimensional. I also added a Basic RhinestoneJewel at the top of the cage just because! The words “You’re Invited” are from For the Bridestamp set, and also embossed with Wild Wasabi ink.

Inside, the card opens up to reveal the invitation wording, as shown above.

Summer Flowers Bridal Shower Invitation

This is a simple but bold invitation, measuring 5″ x 7″. I created this using My Digital Studio, utilizing various brush stamp images from Simple Friendship. I found the poem at the top by searching for bridal shower invitation wording. To give the invitation a little pop of color and dimension, I added a tiny paper flower and pearl at the top.

Sunflower Gatefold Bridal Shower Invitation

This is a gorgeous card that could also be used as a wedding invitation. It measures 5 1/4″ square when closed. It’s an ivory Gatefold style card that features a large handmade sunflower and intricate embossing (Elegant Lines Embossing Folder).

It is a little difficult to photograph, but the sunflower is sponged and spritzed with Shimmer Mist to give it some sparkle. To create the petals, I start with a large scallop circle and cut in between each scallop to create the “petals”. The center of the flower is made up of 1″ circles cut from Chocolate Chip card stock. In the center, I stamped “You’re Invited” in Calypso Coral ink on Very Vanilla card stock. Then, I paper pierced along the top and bottom and notched the edges with my paper snips to create a banner. The banner is slightly curved and attached to the sunflower with two tiny glue dots.

Here is how the sunflower card opens. Inside, there is a coordinating color background, layered with the invitation wording panel.